Big 12 MBB Regular Season Ends & Awards Announced
03/04/2012

Big 12 regular season wrapped up this past weekend with a full slate of action and the Big 12 handed out their conference awards, as well. Four of the five Big 12 squad's took care of business at home to finish off regular season play on Saturday, as Missouri was the lone school to get a victory on the road.

The third ranked Jayhawks, who had already locked up the number one seed in the Big 12 tournament and the regular season conference title for the eighth straight, end the season with another conference win at home 73-63 over Texas on senior night. It was junior forward and National Player of the Year candidate, Thomas Robinson who lead the Jayhawks with 25 points and 14 rebounds, good for his twenty-second double-double of the season; as very well could have been Robinson last game at the Fieldhouse, as he projects a NBA lottery pick. Senior guard, Tyshawn Taylor continued his successful play this season, also with a 22 point performance, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, as well. There is just something about playing Kansas that brings out the best in junior, J'Covan Brown as he had another stellar game against the Jayhawks netting 33 points, but his team went home with the loss. Texas finish the regular season 19-12 and 9-9 in the league; while Kansas finishes the regular season as Big 12 champs with a 26-5 record and 16-2 league mark.

Seventh ranked Missouri Tigers where the only road team to get a victory in the Big 12 on Saturday, as they will be the two seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament. The Tigers ran away with the game in Lubbock, Texas against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 81-59. Tigers finished the day with five players in double figures once again this season, as senior, Kim English lead the team with 20 points in the contest, as fellow senior, Ricardo Ratliffe had a double-double 13 points and 15 rebounds, in the commanding win for Missouri. Texas Tech, was lead by sophomore, Jaye Crockett with 17 points off the bench, in the loss. The Red Raiders finish the regular season 8-22 and 1-17 in the Big 12; while Missouri improved to 27-4 and 14-4 in league play with the win.

It was senior night in Manhattan for the Wildcats of Kansas State and it was senior, Jamar Samuels who had himself a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while his teammate junior, Rodney McGruder scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Wildcats to a 77-58 win over the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Wildcats also say Jordan Henriquez net double digits on the night also with 16 points off the bench in the win. Senior Keiton Page, in his final regular season Big 12 game had 22 points on the road, but only got support from fellow teammate Cezar Guerrero to the tune of 15 points, which was not enough for the Cowboys to have a chance on the road. Oklahoma State finishes the regular season part of action 14-17 and 7-11 in the Big 12; while Kansas State is now 21-9 and 10-8 in conference play.

The other two Big 12 games over the weekend say Oklahoma win at home over Texas A&M, in a close ball game 65-62. Junior forward, Romero Osby lead the Sooners with 24 points; while A&M had four players finish in double figures in the loss. Oklahoma finishes regular season play 15-15 and 5-13 in the Big 12; while Texas A&M a Big 12 preseason favorite finishes regular season play a disappointing 13-17 and 4-14 in the conference. In the other matchup it was Iowa State at home taking down ninth ranked Baylor, 80-72; giving the Cyclones the three seed in the Big 12 tournament. All five starters finished with double digit scoring for Iowa State with senior guard, Scott Christopherson leading the way with 23 points. While Baylor let a 35 point performance courtesy of junior guard, Pierre Jackson go to waste. Baylor finishes off regular season play 25-6 and 12-6 in the Big 12; while Iowa State sits at 22-9 and 12-6 in the Big 12 with the win.

 

With the regular season action in the Big 12 in the books the conference announced the All-Big 12 honors. It was two Kansas Jayhawks taking home the two biggest honors in Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards, as junior forward Thomas Robinson won the Player of the Year award and Bill Self took home the Coach of the Year award, as co-Coach of the Year sharing the crown with Iowa State's, Fred Hoiberg.

Robinson becomes the seventh Jayhawk to take home Big 12 Player of the Year award, after averaging a double double this season (18ppg & 11.9 rpg). Well the Jayhawks wouldn't stop with those two awards as the Defensive Player of the Year award, would go to junior center, Jeff Whitey for the Kansas. Whitey lead the Big 12 in blocks with 100 on the season, which the fifth best season total in Big 12 history.

Other individual awards like the Sixth Man of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year were handed out, as well. It was Missouri Tigers, Michael Dixon taking home the Sixth Man of the Year award, winning it unanimously, as he averaged 13.3ppg this season off the bench for the Tigers. Newcomer of the Year went to Iowa State transfer, Royce White, who like Dixon was an unanimous decision for his respective award. White nearly averaged a double-double on the season, 12.9ppg and 9.2rpg. Lastly it was Co-Freshman of the Year as the award went to two players in Baylor's, Quincy Miller and Oklahoma State's Le'Bryan Nash.

Below is a list of all the individual awards, as well as the All-Rookie team, All-Defensive team and All-Big 12 teams (courtesy of Big12sports.com)

2011-12 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS

Player of the Year: Thomas Robinson, Kansas, F, Jr., 6-10, 237, Washington, D.C./Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Defensive Player of the Year: Jeff Withey, Kansas, C, Jr., 7-0, 235, San Diego, Calif./Horizon
Newcomer of the Year: Royce White, Iowa State, F, So., 6-8, 270, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins/Minnesota**
Co-Freshman of the Year: Quincy Miller, Baylor, F, Fr., 6-9, 210, High Point, N.C./Westchester Country Day School
Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State, G/F, Fr., 6-7, 230, Dallas, Texas/Lincoln
Sixth Man Award: Michael Dixon, Missouri, G, Jr., 6-1, 185, Kansas City, Mo./Lee's Summit West**
Co-Coaches of the Year: Fred Hoiberg, Iowa State [Career and at ISU: 38-25, 2nd season]
Bill Self, Kansas [Career: 470-156, 19th season; At KU: 263-51, 9th season]

Ties in the voting created additional spots for Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year

All-Big 12 First Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Royce White, Iowa State** F 6-8 270 So. Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins/Minnesota
Thomas Robinson, Kansas** F 6-10 237 Jr. Washington, D.C./Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas** G 6-3 185 Sr. Hoboken, N.J./St. Anthony
Marcus Denmon, Missouri G 6-3 185 Sr. Kansas City, Mo./Hogan Prep
J'Covan Brown, Texas G 6-1 197 Jr. Port Arthur, Texas/Memorial
 
All-Big 12 Second Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Quincy Acy, Baylor F 6-7 235 Sr. Mesquite, Texas/Horn
Pierre Jackson, Baylor G 5-10 180 Jr. Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
Rodney McGruder, Kansas State G 6-4 205 Jr. Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.]
Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri F 6-8 240 Sr. Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan/Central Florida CC
Keiton Page, Oklahoma State G 5-9 165 Sr. Pawnee, Okla./Pawnee
 
All-Big 12 Third Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Perry Jones III, Baylor F 6-11 235 So. Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville
Scott Christopherson, Iowa State G 6-3 195 Sr. LaCrosse, Wis./Aquinas/Marquette
Jeff Withey, Kansas C 7-0 235 Jr. San Diego, Calif./Horizon
Kim English, Missouri G 6-6 200 Sr. Baltimore, Md./Randallstown/Notre Dame Prep
Phil Pressey, Missouri G 5-10 175 So. Dallas, Texas/Dallas Episcopal
 
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Quincy Miller (Baylor), Chris Allen (Iowa State), Melvin Ejim (Iowa State), Jamar Samuels (Kansas State), Steven Pledger (Oklahoma), Romero Osby (Oklahoma), Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State), Myck Kabongo (Texas), Elston Turner (Texas A&M), David Loubeau (Texas A&M)
 
Big 12 All-Defensive Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Quincy Acy, Baylor** F 6-7 235 Sr. Mesquite, Texas/Horn
Jeff Withey, Kansas** C 7-0 235 Jr. San Diego, Calif./Horizon
Jordan Henriquez, Kansas State F 6-11 250 Jr. Port Chester, N.Y./The Winchendon School [Mass.]
Rodney McGruder, Kansas State G 6-4 205 Jr. Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.]
Michael Dixon, Missouri G 6-1 185 Jr. Kansas City, Mo./Lee's Summit West
 
Big 12 All-Rookie Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Pierre Jackson, Baylor** G 5-10 180 Jr. Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
Quincy Miller, Baylor F 6-9 210 Fr. High Point, N.C./Westchester Country Day School
Royce White, Iowa State** F 6-8 270 So. Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins/Minnesota  
Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State G/F 6-7 230 Fr. Dallas, Texas/Lincoln
Myck Kabongo, Texas G 6-1 169 Fr. Toronto, Ontario, Canada/St. Benedict's Prep [N.J.]

** - Unanimous Selection


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